The Meeker herald., 1887-10-01
The asioF Line ta ksasss.

Fort Scoti IL now intensely excited
over the problem Of mixed schools.
This question had been II source Of dis
turbancc here nj the opening Of every
school term up 10 1851, when u large
new sch1,i.hour. containing four ROOMS
Nh, built exclusively for the colore'i
children at the request Of the colored
people themselves. II Wa, regularly
graded and four competent coloresi
teacher, employed. This seemed To
give entire satisfaction until the present
year. During the past summer three
new school.housrs We're built 10 accom-
mediate the increasing pupilagc Of the
city. 1hrs- were restricted Ia the
whites, giving them seven out of the
eight schooi-houSrs Of III. city. The
color-,i population have made up their
minds tia, this Is MI upu,, discrimina.
ton and insist on mixed schools Ia
oricr that they may enjoy equally with
the white. the advantages Of the IN
creased facilities. They are encouraged
OH this stand by the colotrd clrrHymcn
and the colvI-d in-nhrr Of the board OF
education. Mr.. Lcmo;r. The board
however. have. with the exception Of
Mr. l.rmorc. sir.nly resisted them and
instructed the superintendent and
teachers Of different schools TO exclude
cniotc-i children should they attempt to
| ~sss~s. TN os.~o,nw day taat ~-~s dele
9afsces al cn!csrsi children. aTcssn pants'
by adult representatives. appeared IL
considerable numtrrs at four of th'
s-hool houses and demanded admission
This wxs refused them In each ease
| At the Mathew school the colotrd chill
dfcn marched In any strong and took
possession of the room. Tho ~hitc
c!,iligcn Immediately withdrew and III.
teacher abandoned the school for the
day. The same thing occurred the
second day, but the teacher gathered
around him the few whites who re-
manned ani heard their lessons. also
iu,-iy refusing ;p instruct the coiotcd
ciiiifcn. but permitting them 10 re-
main upon condition 'hry did not create
any disturbance.
At the Wilson street school u little
girl. named ccorgiana Reeves, attended
tn. iirs; day. She Is NJ near whit. that
the principal did not know she Was uf
negro blood. Before III. next day. how.
ever. Lee WAS informed of the fact, and
she Va, accordingly excluded.
The colorci people have resolved to
make u test Of G,orgiana Reeves case
and have carried II into the District
Court. u petition and affidavit setting
forth these fact, being presented In the
cour, and an alternative writ OF manda-
mus issued and served upon the board
OF education and the principals Of the
schools. directing them Ia admit the
child to school or appear upon Scptcin-
her 9th and show cause why per
cmptoTy writ should not bc issued.
The board Of education will resist
what they consider the unreasonable
demands OF the blacks If there
is any possible way TO do 80.
It Ia thought, however. that they
will he unable to do 30. rs the su-
prcmc Court Of Kansas has decided that
cities of the second class. without cna-
bling legislation. cannot exclude chill
t!r.n from tho common schools simply
on account of race or color.
The decision Of the court Is awaited
with interest. although in any event 1t
will create dissatisfaction. If the col.
orcd children are not admitted II VIII
increase their discomfort. while IL they
are. the great body Of whites will with
draw. and ii is threatened that the col
orcd teachers in the colored schools will
be discharged.